Bacon: Giving thanks and serving those in need

Posted by: Victoria Klimczak | Wednesday, November 21, 2018 10:31 am

The holiday season is a great time to give thanks, reflect on the blessings in our lives, and show compassion for those less fortunate. While spending time with your family and enjoying holiday activities, consider ways to help others in our community. Giving back can be a rewarding experience, and this time of year, there are many opportunities to get involved in our area.

For the 2019 legislative session, the Indiana House of Representatives is partnering with the Indiana Division of The Salvation Army in an effort to raise awareness about childhood hunger. Sadly, childhood hunger is more common than we might think. About a third of the individuals served by Indiana food banks are under the age of 18. Throughout session, House legislators are collecting non-perishable food items to donate to the Salvation Army. The items collected will go to school-aged children who face a period of hunger between their school lunch on Friday and breakfast on Monday morning.

There are many ways to get involved with the Salvation Army in our area. The Evansville Salvation Army offers opportunities to volunteer for activities, make monetary donations and donate needed goods. Monetary donations stay in the community and are used to help serve those in need in our area. You can also volunteer to ring bells or help with the Coat-A-Kid program, which distributes coats to individuals in need. To learn more about how to get involved, visit saevansville.org.

Hunters and farmers in our area can also help out by participating in Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry. Participating butcher shops across the state accept donations of game and livestock, which is then used to serve nearly 430,000 Hoosiers each year. An average deer can provide about 200 meals to families in need. Hunters can donate a whole deer or choose to give by the pound. The program also accepts monetary donations to help cover butchering expenses. To get involved with Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry, visit hoosiersfeedingthehungry.org.

I hope that you and your family had a happy Thanksgiving, and I hope you join me in helping others in our community during the holiday season. As always, contact my office with any questions or input at 317-232-9643 or h75@iga.in.gov.

-30-

State Rep. Ron Bacon (R-Chandler) represents House District 75, which includes portions of Warrick, Pike and Spencer counties.